skim

[ skim ]

/ skɪm /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: skim / skimmed / skimming on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), skimmed, skim·ming.

to take up or remove (floating matter) from the surface of a liquid, as with a spoon or ladle: to skim the cream from milk.

to clear (liquid) thus: to skim milk.

to move or glide lightly over or along (a surface, as of water): The sailboat skimmed the lake.

to throw in a smooth, gliding path over or near a surface, or so as to bounce or ricochet along a surface: to skim a stone across the lake.

to read, study, consider, treat, etc., in a superficial or cursory manner.

to cover, as a liquid, with a thin film or layer: Ice skimmed the lake at night.

to take the best or most available parts or items from: Bargain hunters skimmed the flea markets early in the morning.

to take (the best or most available parts or items) from something: The real bargains had been skimmed by early shoppers.

Metallurgy. to remove (slag, scum, or dross) from the surface of molten metal.

Slang. to conceal a portion of (winnings, earnings, etc.) in order to avoid paying income taxes, commissions, or the like on the actual total revenue (sometimes followed by off): The casino skimmed two million a year.

to appropriate (credit or debit card information) electronically for illegal use: A hidden device can skim your account number while you’re pumping gas, paying for groceries, etc.

verb (used without object), skimmed, skim·ming.

to pass or glide lightly over or near a surface.

to read, study, consider, etc., something in a superficial or cursory way.

to become covered with a thin film or layer.

Slang. to conceal gambling or other profits so as to avoid paying taxes, etc.; practice skimming.

noun

an act or instance of skimming.

something that is skimmed off.

a thin layer or film formed on the surface of something, especially a liquid, as the coagulated protein material formed on boiled milk.

a thin layer, as of mortar.

Slang. the amount taken or concealed by skimming.

skim milk.

Obsolete. scum.

OTHER WORDS FOR skim

5 scan.

13 glance.

See synonyms for skim on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of skim

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English skymen, skemen, variant of scumen “to skim,” perhaps from Old French escumer “to remove scum”; see scum

OTHER WORDS FROM skim

un·skimmed, adjective

How to use skim in a sentence

And I whipped off my straw hat and skimmed it across the room and it sailed right out the window and has never been seen since.
Mel Brooks Is Always Funny and Often Wise in This 1975 Playboy Interview|Alex Belth|February 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A good portion of Louisiana law enforcement is financed with dollars legally skimmed off the top of prison operations.
Norquist's Jindal Veep Mistake|Michael Tomasky|May 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I had seen the term listed in pregnancy books, but skimmed over it.
Feeding Tubes, NICU, One-on-One Care: Susan Hatfield Talks About Living With Her Trisomy 18 Baby|Susan Hatfield|February 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
When the Concordia skimmed the rocky reef Friday, lodging a giant boulder into her hull, Schettino made his second mistake.
Francesco Schettino, the Costa Concordia’s Daredevil Captain|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Usually a diligent observer, nonetheless Winslow skimmed over the episode in two sentences.
The Real Story Behind Thanksgiving|Nick Bunker|November 24, 2010|DAILY BEAST
As though shot out of some huge cannon the aero-iceboat skimmed the lake.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
A shower had just skimmed by, but now the sun shone brightly, and the air smelt of the pines and the grass.
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson
If only one has been infused, and the rennet is intended for immediate use, the infusion requires only to be skimmed and strained.
Domestic Animals|Richard L. Allen
During the summer it is constantly skimmed, and fresh salt added from time to time.
Domestic Animals|Richard L. Allen
Where there were humps he cut fairly deep, and where there were depressions he skimmed lightly.
The Red Cow and Her Friends|Peter McArthur

British Dictionary definitions for skim

skim

/ (skɪm) /

verb skims, skimming or skimmed

(tr) to remove floating material from the surface of (a liquid), as with a spoonto skim milk

to glide smoothly or lightly over (a surface)

(tr) to throw (something) in a path over a surface, so as to bounce or ricochetto skim stones over water

(when intr, usually foll by through) to read (a book) in a superficial or cursory manner

to cover (a liquid) with a thin layer or (of liquid) to become coated in this way, as with ice, scum, etc

noun

the act or process of skimming

material skimmed off a liquid, esp off milk

the liquid left after skimming

any thin layer covering a surface

Word Origin for skim

C15 skimmen, probably from scumen to skim; see scum

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

skim

OTHER WORDS FOR skim

Origin of skim

OTHER WORDS FROM skim

Words related to skim

How to use skim in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for skim

Word Origin for skim